Apple introduced the iPhone 5, as well as a colorful major upgrade to the iPod touch, during a special media event on Wednesday. The new hardware boasts notable upgrades for both devices with respect to the built-in camera hardware. The iPhone 5 has a refined version of the 8MP camera in the iPhone 4S, while the iPod touch gets a serious shot in the photographic arm with a 5MP autofocus camera. Both devices also get a backside-illuminated, 1.2MP, 720p FaceTime HD front-facing camera and a new automatic panorama shooting feature in the Camera app.

We thought it might be helpful to break down all the updates in more detail for the avid shutterbugs in our audience.

iPhone 5: 8 megapixels refined

The iPhone 4S had very respectable camera hardware. The front-facing camera was the same old VGA-quality FaceTime camera we knew from previous iOS devices, but the rear-facing 8MP "iSight" camera was one of the best on any smartphone we've ever tested. Apple not only increased the resolution over the iPhone 4's 5MP, but it did so while improving sensitivity to light by employing a backside-illuminated, full-well CMOS design. It coupled the sensor with a noise-reducing hybrid IR filter and a new five-element, f/2.4 autofocus lens.

The iPhone 5's camera is still 8MP, but it is further refined. The new sensor and lens combination is thinner, to fit within the thinner iPhone 5 casing, and the focal length is ever so slightly wider (4.13mm versus 4.28mm). Otherwise the hardware specs are nearly identical: 3264x2448 pixel resolution, backside illumination, hybrid IR filter, five-element f/2.4 lens.

Specifically, Apple claims to now be using micron-level alignment for the lens, which should help improve critical sharpness. (Such precision is likely also required to fit the camera module into the thinner iPhone 5 body.) The lens is protected by a sapphire crystal cover for improved protection, which should also carry less potential aberrations compared to the glass cover used on the iPhone 4S.

These are minor refinements, however; most of the improved capabilities are due to the better processing capabilities of the A6 processor and improved software. The dual-core A6 processor—likely built on a 32nm process and employing A15 ARM cores and updated PowerVR GPUs—can capture photos 40 percent faster than the iPhone 4S, according to Apple. The iPhone 4S was already pretty fast in our experience, so this is a significant improvement.

Additional signal processing capabilities also allow Apple to employ advanced imaging improvements comparable to those of high-end digital cameras. Spatial noise reduction helps keep noise from the tiny sensor in check, and the camera will now use dynamic pixel-pinning to boost images captured in low light. A new "smart filter" also analyzes images before applying noise reduction, selectively reducing noise in areas of uniform color or tone, while using less noise reduction in areas that should retain texture and detail.

Sample images provided by Apple should show some evidence of this smart filtering. For instance, compare the areas in the skin of this cute snap of a little girl enjoying a sno-cone to those around the eyes, mouth, fingers, and hair. You may notice that areas around edges, or areas of more texture, have more noise than the larger areas of skin such as the cheeks. There's also less noise in the yellow wooden slats behind her, except in areas of texture or around the edges.

The iPhone 5 continues to capture 1080p stabilized video, same as the iPhone 4S.

The hardware for the front-facing camera has also been significantly improved over the first generation "FaceTime" cameras on previous iOS devices. A new "FaceTime HD" camera retains the fixed-focus lens, but now uses a 1.2MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. Stills can be captured at 1.2MP, while video is upgraded from SD to 720p HD. The camera can also use face detection to bias exposure for portraits and FaceTime video chats.

iPod touch: finally a worthy contender

The iPod touch got a more serious update to its camera hardware, which was barely useable in its previous incarnation. Our examination of the fourth-generation iPod touch revealed snapping abilities that were just this side of better-than-nothing, and the sub-2MP images captured with a fixed focus lens weren't good for much more than changing Facebook avatars or snapping a pic to quickly illustrate some point. These images were never going to be printed or saved for posterity; by contrast, a 5MP image straight from my iPhone 4 was printed on stretched canvas at 16x20" and now hangs over the mantel.

The iPod touch now includes seriously useful camera hardware.

Nathan Mattise

The good news is that Apple seriously beefed up the iPod touch's camera. It now features a 5MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor similar to the one used in the iPad 3. It also has a hybrid IR filter and five-element f/2.4 autofocus lens from the iPhone, and now includes an LED "flash." Coupled with an A5 processor, the camera doesn't have the same spatial noise reduction, smart filter, or dynamic low-light capture as the iPhone 5. However, its capture quality should be as good as the iPhone 4S, with resolution comparable to the iPhone 4 or third-gen iPad. That's a pretty good standard—vastly improved over the old iPod touch, and good enough for many to consider ditching a dedicated point-and-shoot digicam.

In addition, the iPod touch now includes the FaceTime HD camera included in the iPhone 5, so self portraits and FaceTime chats will be comparably improved.

Easy panoramas: just follow the arrow

The major new software feature added to iOS 6's Camera app is the touted automatic "Panorama" feature. This feature, compatible with the iPhone 5, new iPod touch, and the iPhone 4S, makes it easy to capture wide, panoramic views of up to 240 degrees and up to 28MP in resolution by simply rotating the camera.

Apple SVP Phil Schiller discussed the new Panorama feature in iOS 6 at a special media event.

Nathan Mattise

Simply hold your iPhone or iPod touch in vertical orientation and sweep it across the view in the direction indicated on the screen. The camera app uses input from the gyroscope to figure out how to align a series of images, even if you don't use a smooth, linear motion. "Behind the scenes, in real time, it's taking slices of photos, finding the edges, stitching them together, creating seamless transitions between photos," Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller explained during the iPhone 5's introduction on Wednesday.

So far the demonstrations have been impressive, and we look forward to testing the feature further once iOS 6 and the newer hardware is released.

Miscellaneous software tweaks

The Camera software has also gotten a few other software tweaks. With the iPhone 5's beefier A6 processor, the camera has improved video stabilization and face detection. One feature we think will be quite popular is the ability to take still photos while shooting video; this capability has been migrating from high-end digital cameras to smartphones over the past few months, and it was smart of Apple to add the feature. It's not clear if these stills are full resolution or just 1920x1080 pixel captures, but either way it could come in handy.

We are a little disappointed that Apple doesn't appear to have added any manual overrides to settings like white balance, ISO, exposure compensation, or exposure. It's clear that Apple wants the camera to be super easy to use, and therefore limits its features. But with other advanced options like HDR and a grid overlay, as well as the new panorama feature, we see no reason not to at least make them available as an optional ability that experienced photographers could use.

Overall, though, the iPhone 5 appears to offer significant and useful updates for existing owners of the iPhone 4 or earlier hardware. If you have an iPhone 4S, the refined camera may not be enough on its own to justify an early upgrade. We'll definitely dig into image quality comparisons when we have hardware to review, and should be able to offer a clearer picture—pun intended—of the value to both casual and serious photographers.

Users with older iPod touches who want to take better pictures should definitely be pleased with what Apple is offering with the $299-and-up fifth-gen models. In this case, if picture quality is a large concern for you, I honestly have no qualms about recommending an upgrade, even without having touched the new hardware.

Promoted Comments

I don't really believe the A6 is using Cortex A-15 cores because ARM teamed up with Texas Instruments to be the launch partner of the A-15 SoCs. I'd be highly surprised if Apple is launching a Cortex A-15 based SoC before ARM even believes it's ready.

I've been using Pano, a third-party panorama app, on my iPhone for years. It's neat that it works, but it's really fiddly and you have to overlap your pictures in a particular way and hope it can stitch them together.

Because it's such a pain, I only used it for scenic mountain views and so forth. I'm really looking forward to Apple's implementation, which looks like much less friction.

For instance, compare the areas in the skin of this cute snap of a little girl enjoying a sno-cone to those around the eyes, mouth, fingers, and hair. You may notice that areas around edges, or areas of more texture, have more noise than the larger areas of skin such as the cheeks. There's also less noise in the yellow wooden slats behind her, except in areas of texture or around the edges.

I don't know about this...It seems like any other unprocessed digital photo where dark areas tend to show more noise than light areas.

You can apply the same observations to any other similar photo and come away with the same "conclusions" about noise reduction.

Would you want every article about Android phones to call out the origin of their features? "The icon grid, first introduced in the 2007 iPhone..."? No. You'd go berzerk. Heck, you're probably frothing with objections to my hypothetical.

Articles about device upgrades should talk about the device and the upgrades. Leave it to the most emotional of the forum-dwellers to play silly point-scoring games, where the rest of us can just hit "foe" and tune out.

Okay, I know it's been said, but Android has had Panorama for over a year, even longer if you're using an AOSP or custom ROM..

And so has iPhone, for over a year.All you had to do was download a free app called Photosynth, from Microsoft.No custom ROMs required.Perhaps other phones had it before Android, does it really matter?

Many things in life have been done before, it doesn't mean we are forbidden from mentioning when a newer/improved version is available, or journalists from reviewing said item.

Also the only thing in this article that's definite is the sapphire crystal cover, which is defo better than glass. Very few things in the world can scratch sapphire crystal Gonna wait until some comparison pics come out before judging on improvement!

Would you want every article about Android phones to call out the origin of their features? "The icon grid, first introduced in the 2007 iPhone..."? No. You'd go berzerk. Heck, you're probably frothing with objections to my hypothetical.

Articles about device upgrades should talk about the device and the upgrades. Leave it to the most emotional of the forum-dwellers to play silly point-scoring games, where the rest of us can just hit "foe" and tune out.

You're right, articles about device upgrades should talk about the device and the upgrades. But it should also not pretend that it's the first time that these upgrades were made to any device, and that it's something new and revolutionary. It's fine not to bother mentioning that Android had these capabilities first, but at least don't play it off like Apple just invented it.

Quote:

We are a little disappointed that Apple doesn't appear to have added any manual overrides to settings like white balance, ISO, exposure compensation, or exposure. It's clear that Apple wants the camera to be super easy to use, and therefore limits its features.

Apple has *always* limited features as the way to keep their products simpler for the average consumer. They don't have the skills nor the internal talent to include such features for the power-user, *and* keep the design simple enough for the layman. Thankfully, other operating systems, such as Android, have managed to do this fairly well. My mother can adjust these settings on my Android phone with ease, and she's almost completely tech-illiterate. So that's a case-in-point there.

It shouldn't be a surprise, just look at the latest release of OSX, instead of better refining the OS to suit both power-users and the layman, they just removed most of the more "tinker-friendly" features altogether to cater to the lowest common denominator. Such a denominator is their largest consumer base, so it was a logical choice. But companies with enough skill and internal talent can usually come up with something to satisfy both audiences. They either lack these kinds of high end developers, or they just took the easy way out.

What's especially funny is the marketing. They usually turn this feature-rip-away behaviour upside down with a spin, something along the lines of "The new iPhone. Faster. Better. Simpler." "Simpler" not as in "simpler to use because it's more refined", but "simpler to use because we took out all the features that many people don't use but that more tech-savvy users might like to have".

Okay, I know it's been said, but Android has had Panorama for over a year, even longer if you're using an AOSP or custom ROM.

Could you Apple-ites at least go so far as to MENTION that Android had it first?

The same thing happened with Siri - "Wow, voice activation on a cell phone? Voice seach? Wow! Apple did it first?" - No. Android did it first.

Terrible logic.News article: "Apple releases phone with features!"Annoyed Fan: "Why they no mention Android released a phone with features first this year??"

It's an article about Apple, not you. The fact is, there's already a number of articles that detail the ho-humness of this release (especially when compared against Android).

Actually that's a decent illustration of the point. When an Android release is ho-hum, there aren't a dozen Ars articles detailing it.

Also, I would also like to suggest that you never, ever used 'photog' again. Unless that's a new term, perhaps meaning 'people who like to think of themselves as photographers but take pictures with a telephone.'

What I really want to see is an iPhone 5 / Lumia 920 camera-off. Both are ~8MP and claim to have some amazing stuff going on to improve photos, so it would be an interesting duel.

FWIW, my wife has an iPhone 4S, I have a Lumia 900. The iPhone 4s is a superior camera--particularly in low light situations (inside). Having said that, the Lumia is a better smartphone and even my wife is considering switching to a WP for her next phone in a couple years.

You're right, articles about device upgrades should talk about the device and the upgrades. But it should also not pretend that it's the first time that these upgrades were made to any device, and that it's something new and revolutionary. It's fine not to bother mentioning that Android had these capabilities first, but at least don't play it off like Apple just invented it.

What I really want to see is an iPhone 5 / Lumia 920 camera-off. Both are ~8MP and claim to have some amazing stuff going on to improve photos, so it would be an interesting duel.

FWIW, my wife has an iPhone 4S, I have a Lumia 900. The iPhone 4s is a superior camera--particularly in low light situations (inside). Having said that, the Lumia is a better smartphone and even my wife is considering switching to a WP for her next phone in a couple years.

Okay, I know it's been said, but Android has had Panorama for over a year, even longer if you're using an AOSP or custom ROM.

Could you Apple-ites at least go so far as to MENTION that Android had it first?

The same thing happened with Siri - "Wow, voice activation on a cell phone? Voice seach? Wow! Apple did it first?" - No. Android did it first.

I'm thinking about buying an iPhone 5, but I'm almost avoiding it because of pretentiousness.

Please provide a quote from the article where it is claimed Apple invented panorama, or did it first.

Maybe it's the part where the article carefully explained what it does and how it works, as though it's something brand new that people aren't likely to ever have seen before. I know that part struck me as odd.

You're right, articles about device upgrades should talk about the device and the upgrades. But it should also not pretend that it's the first time that these upgrades were made to any device, and that it's something new and revolutionary. It's fine not to bother mentioning that Android had these capabilities first, but at least don't play it off like Apple just invented it.

Please point out where this happened in the article.

It's a bit subjective and will hit different people differently, I'll admit, but this is what I was talking about:

Quote:

The major new software feature added to iOS 6's Camera app is the touted automatic "Panorama" feature. This feature, compatible with the iPhone 5, new iPod touch, and the iPhone 4S, makes it easy to capture wide, panoramic views of up to 240 degrees and up to 28MP in resolution by simply rotating the camera.

1. major new software feature - Sure, it's technically a major new software feature for the iOS Camera app, so even I'll admit this one's a little weak for me to argue.

2. touted automatic "Panorama" feature - "Touted"? And why is "Panorama" in quotes rather than just panorama? It's not noteworthy, it's not something that should be "coined" as the quotes imply. Sure, I'm being picky, but when I read it naturally, it came across as meaning to stand out, as if it's something new that hasn't been done before. That's subjectively the way it hit me personally.

3. This feature, compatible with the iPhone 5, new iPod touch, and the iPhone 4S - I'm sure they mean that these are the specific iOS devices that will get this feature, but like #2, albeit in a weaker way, struck me similarly, kind of like "If you want a feature like this, you need one of these devices".

I can't argue this with you, but maybe you can understand how one could see the subjective implications. I'm not even going to try and prove a point about it, just try to give you how I saw it and see if you understand. If you don't, then you don't. Let's move on.

Anything to say about my post after this quote? I wrote more, and I'd be more interested in knowing what people think about the second part.

Okay, I know it's been said, but Android has had Panorama for over a year, even longer if you're using an AOSP or custom ROM.

Could you Apple-ites at least go so far as to MENTION that Android had it first?

The same thing happened with Siri - "Wow, voice activation on a cell phone? Voice seach? Wow! Apple did it first?" - No. Android did it first.

I'm thinking about buying an iPhone 5, but I'm almost avoiding it because of pretentiousness.

Please provide a quote from the article where it is claimed Apple invented panorama, or did it first.

Maybe it's the part where the article carefully explained what it does and how it works, as though it's something brand new that people aren't likely to ever have seen before. I know that part struck me as odd.

Then it hit you similarly to how it hit me. I'm glad someone else independently thought the same thing, it goes to show that there is some merit to what I said.

Actually that's a decent illustration of the point. When an Android release is ho-hum, there aren't a dozen Ars articles detailing it.

This. I think there may be just a dozen articles on Android on Ars, period. Of course, that's understandable there's not an "Android Ecosystem" section like there is for Apple.

(In case you didn't hear me Ars, I was saying I wanted more Android articles).

Anyways, getting back on topic, serious camera enthusiasts will never do photo shoots with their iPhone, so why bother trying to get to that point? Sure make it nicer for those quick snapshots, but shouldn't you focus your energies in innovation?

I hope Panorama is good. I have used Photosynth and other apps in the past (Android will be similar) and they all sucked. Problems arise especially when the phone has to use different exposures. I tried to do a panorama of the Big Ben once and the sun ruined it (sunny day in London, who knew). Parts of it where just white and completely overexposed. The sample pics are really promising though.

Edit: Some Android users here are obviously trolling, don't feed them. BTW Where Microsoft fans like that in 1995?

Okay, I know it's been said, but Android has had Panorama for over a year, even longer if you're using an AOSP or custom ROM.

Could you Apple-ites at least go so far as to MENTION that Android had it first?

The same thing happened with Siri - "Wow, voice activation on a cell phone? Voice seach? Wow! Apple did it first?" - No. Android did it first.

I'm thinking about buying an iPhone 5, but I'm almost avoiding it because of pretentiousness.

You really dont get it or Apple. No, Apple didnt have it first ( by the way Apple had QTVR about 18 years ago if your really counting).

Apple didnt do it first because Apple didnt want to put out a panorama app that would suck and be hard to for your Mom to use.

Is the stock panorama app on android really like what Apple did? Im guessing, no, its not really at all.

When the CPU was powerful enough that they do this in real time with minimal effort to user then they saw a reason to make a panorama app.

I have seen android panorama apps and they suck. Photosynth by Microsoft is the best out there right now.

Or Apple just didn't have the skilled enough developers with the talent to pull it off properly before anyone else. That's not necessarily the reason, but it's a possibility, given that neither you or I know the real internal reasons.

Not that many Pro Photographers would deploy using an iPhone for their paid shoots that they give a damn about anyway - but if you consider yourself a writer then don't be lazy.

Writers on Ars? No, they're more like bloggers. Decent articles on here these days are few and far between. It was a lot better (and I'd say at it's peak maybe even) around 2005-2006. Back when I was but a lurker.

You're right, articles about device upgrades should talk about the device and the upgrades. But it should also not pretend that it's the first time that these upgrades were made to any device, and that it's something new and revolutionary. It's fine not to bother mentioning that Android had these capabilities first, but at least don't play it off like Apple just invented it.

Please point out where this happened in the article.

It's a bit subjective and will hit different people differently, I'll admit, but this is what I was talking about:

Quote:

The major new software feature added to iOS 6's Camera app is the touted automatic "Panorama" feature. This feature, compatible with the iPhone 5, new iPod touch, and the iPhone 4S, makes it easy to capture wide, panoramic views of up to 240 degrees and up to 28MP in resolution by simply rotating the camera.

1. major new software feature - Sure, it's technically a major new software feature for the iOS Camera app, so even I'll admit this one's a little weak for me to argue.

2. touted automatic "Panorama" feature - "Touted"? And why is "Panorama" in quotes rather than just panorama? It's not noteworthy, it's not something that should be "coined" as the quotes imply. Sure, I'm being picky, but when I read it naturally, it came across as meaning to stand out, as if it's something new that hasn't been done before. That's subjectively the way it hit me personally.

3. This feature, compatible with the iPhone 5, new iPod touch, and the iPhone 4S - I'm sure they mean that these are the specific iOS devices that will get this feature, but like #2, albeit in a weaker way, struck me similarly, kind of like "If you want a feature like this, you need one of these devices".

I can't argue this with you, but maybe you can understand how one could see the subjective implications. I'm not even going to try and prove a point about it, just try to give you how I saw it and see if you understand. If you don't, then you don't. Let's move on.

Anything to say about my post after this quote? I wrote more, and I'd be more interested in knowing what people think about the second part.

They're explaining the feature because the reader may not know what it is, exactly.

You're right, articles about device upgrades should talk about the device and the upgrades. But it should also not pretend that it's the first time that these upgrades were made to any device, and that it's something new and revolutionary. It's fine not to bother mentioning that Android had these capabilities first, but at least don't play it off like Apple just invented it.

Please point out where this happened in the article.

It's a bit subjective and will hit different people differently, I'll admit, but this is what I was talking about:

Quote:

The major new software feature added to iOS 6's Camera app is the touted automatic "Panorama" feature. This feature, compatible with the iPhone 5, new iPod touch, and the iPhone 4S, makes it easy to capture wide, panoramic views of up to 240 degrees and up to 28MP in resolution by simply rotating the camera.

1. major new software feature - Sure, it's technically a major new software feature for the iOS Camera app, so even I'll admit this one's a little weak for me to argue.

2. touted automatic "Panorama" feature - "Touted"? And why is "Panorama" in quotes rather than just panorama? It's not noteworthy, it's not something that should be "coined" as the quotes imply. Sure, I'm being picky, but when I read it naturally, it came across as meaning to stand out, as if it's something new that hasn't been done before. That's subjectively the way it hit me personally.

3. This feature, compatible with the iPhone 5, new iPod touch, and the iPhone 4S - I'm sure they mean that these are the specific iOS devices that will get this feature, but like #2, albeit in a weaker way, struck me similarly, kind of like "If you want a feature like this, you need one of these devices".

I can't argue this with you, but maybe you can understand how one could see the subjective implications. I'm not even going to try and prove a point about it, just try to give you how I saw it and see if you understand. If you don't, then you don't. Let's move on.

Anything to say about my post after this quote? I wrote more, and I'd be more interested in knowing what people think about the second part.

They're explaining the feature because the reader may not know what it is, exactly.

Holy cow, get a life dude.

I have a life. I was just answering his question. Something wrong with that? He wanted to understand why I would say what I said, so I tried my best to demonstrate what subjectively went through my head. I think that's better than not responding at all.

They're explaining the feature because the reader may not know what it is, exactly.

I think it's safe to say that if you're on this website, you'd know what a panorama is. Oh wait, I forgot that Ars is catering to less tech-savvy users these days. I guess you're one of them? Or at the very least, you agree then that most users around here wouldn't know what a panorama is?